High-Ranking San Francisco Fire Official Demoted After Crash
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— A high level San Francisco fire department veteran has been demoted to his previous rank for allegedly leaving the scene of a minor car crash in Sonoma.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Kyle Merkins, who lives in Sonoma, was driving his department- issued sedan when the collision occurred last March.
The other driver involved in the crash told the paper that Merkins' vehicle bumped into his. After that happened, the driver said he followed Merkins to a stoplight, where Merkins flipped on his emergency lights and drove through a red light.
Merkins, 46, is a 24-year-veteran of the SFFD. He was the head of the department's homeland security and special operations unit, but has been demoted to his previous rank of lieutenant and was assigned to the city's fire boat.
Fire Department officials have said it's a personnel matter and declined to comment further.
There were no damages or injuries as a result of the accident.